Beijing unveils detailed reform plan to make Shenzhen model city for China and the world
- Plan would allow wide-ranging reforms to make Shenzhen a global ‘benchmark’ by middle of the century
- It adds to evidence that Beijing is sidelining Hong Kong in development of the Greater Bay Area
Shenzhen – China’s hi-tech capital just over the border from Hong Kong that was the original site for the country’s reform and opening-up experiment 40 years ago – will become a new special economic zone to carry out bolder reforms as a model for other Chinese cities.
Beijing on Sunday unveiled a detailed plan for wide-ranging reforms to be implemented in Shenzhen, including in the legal, financial, medical and social sectors, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV.
Under the plan, Shenzhen would become a model of “high-quality development, an example of law and order and civilisation, as well as societal satisfaction and sustainability”.
The goals were to make the city a leader in terms of innovation, public service and environmental protection by 2025, the report said.
The plan also aimed to make Shenzhen competitive in the world in terms of comprehensive economic abilities by 2035, and a global “benchmark” for competitiveness, innovation and influence by the middle of the century.
International organisations and big companies would be encouraged to set up branches or headquarters in the city, and it would be allowed to “make flexible changes to laws, regulations and local ordinances according to authorisation and based on Shenzhen’s need for reform and innovation”.